1. So where did your adventure take you?

Because I love the mountains around Santa Cruz with their amazing redwood forests, we decided to head there from San Francisco. I wanted to capture the feel of a fun road trip with friends, and the whole day really turned out to be a blast.

2. How did the day go?

We started out shooting a lot of fun stuff with the Range Rover Evoque outside a cafe in San Francisco as a kind of pre-road-trip gathering of friends. We then headed off into the forest where we shot first the interior, then the exterior and finally from the roof of the Range Rover Evoque. We got some terrific images, especially the ones where we used the full-size panoramic glass roof. I love the shot of the reflection of the redwoods towering skywards with the two girls standing at the side looking upwards. There were a lot of layers to that shot.

3. What was the most fun part of the trip?

I think it was having the freedom to take the shoot wherever I wanted it to go. I decided to keep the production values low to give a more organic, authentic look. So no long stops with lots of camera set-ups and lighting. I just wanted to capture the moment and be fast and loose. It’s always the small moments that make up a great adventure.

4. Did you know much about the new Range Rover Evoque before the shoot?

Not much. My sister has always owned Land Rover vehicles, and I’ve used a couple of Defender vehicles in Central America. This project was completely different, and what surprised me the most was just how much fun it was to drive the Range Rover Evoque. I also really loved that glass roof and the way we could use it as a big mirror or a big window to the sky.

5. What’s your background?

Before pursuing professional photography, I spent a decade leading overland trips through Mexico, Central and South America, and Alaska capturing documentary and lifestyle images. I’ve spent time in Tulum, Mexico brewing coffee in my own cafe, and living on a gorgeous beach immersed in the idyllic life. That was until, once again, I felt the pull of travel.

You can see more of Jayms’ images by going to http://tumblr.landroverusa.com/drivers/3-Jayms-Ramirez

It’s where Land Rover has its Land Rover Experience Driving School, and with 8,000 acres it’s a great location. I based the shoot around the new Range Rover Evoque, but we also used other models in the line-up, along with some great vehicles from Land Rover’s Heritage fleet.

Thirty-six hours before I was due to be in Asheville, I was in India on another shoot, trying my best not to get sick. I kept saying to myself ‘don’t get ill, don’t get ill.’ I wore long sleeves all the time, didn’t eat weird food and didn’t drink the water. I was pumped about this assignment and didn’t want to miss it.

 

3.    You’re not normally a car photographer. How did you approach the assignment?

I’m more of a people photographer. For the past seven years, I’ve been working mostly with the music industry, so I decided to treat the vehicles like rock bands. Think about it, the cars are all individuals with their own personalities. I was shooting a new Range Rover Evoque next to a 1960s Land Rover Series II. How different are those? So when I was scouting locations, I imagined I would be shooting a band.

It just amazed me that the instructors, who were helping me out, would take a $100,000-plus Range Rover and get it plastered with mud. But that really helped me capture the authenticity of these vehicles. I’m a southern boy so I know about mud, and this was great. I just wished they’d have gotten even muddier.

I had done some research on it before the shoot and read that it was more of an urban vehicle, so I really expected it to be a little out of its depth on this kind of terrain, but on the first morning when I was out driving it with one of the instructors, I couldn’t believe where he was taking it. I took some great shots of the wheels up in the air, the nose down and buried in the mud, and the car looking like it should be tipping over as it goes sideways along a hill. It was certainly one capable vehicle.

 

First it was off to Encino just north of L.A. for the opening of Land Rover Encino’s stunning new facility on Ventura Boulevard.

Centre Manager Linda Terashita and the AutoNation team masterminded this bold makeover that included leveling the old showroom and the creation of a new, state-of-the-art facility that oozes contemporary style with touches of trademark Land Rover adventure.

Since our first Land Rover ‘centres’ opened in 1994, we’ve continued to evolve the look and feel of the facilities in-line with the modernizing of our Land Rover and Range Rover models.

So you’ll see more use of gorgeous natural woods in the showroom, a sleeker look and feel to the fixtures and fittings along with our trademark green tower on the outside and the inlaid compass rose as you walk in.

Land Rover Encino does a great job in its market, continuing to be one of Land Rover’s top five retailers in the U.S. and a repeat winner of our Pinnacle Club that recognizes outstanding retailer excellence.

Two days later I was heading to Northern California to Cole European, in Walnut Creek, Calif. and the opening of owner Bob Cole and General Manager Wayne Babcock’s brand new combined Jaguar and Land Rover facility.

They threw a fantastic ‘christening’ party for over 350 owners and friends with great live music, some terrific local seafood and great wines from the nearby Napa Valley.

Cole European has been a long-standing Jaguar and Land Rover retailer in the vibrant East Bay area for several decades and this new showroom in Walnut Creek is a true masterpiece of contemporary design.

Even though it occupies this tight triangular piece of property on North Main Street right downtown, it still manages to feel open and spacious, and does a remarkable job of showcasing our vehicles.

Two retailer openings in two days is pretty impressive. I think it proves that even in times when the economy has been challenging, our retailers see the Land Rover and Jaguar brands as having real momentum, and are prepared to make significant investments to ensure our customers have experiences in showcase facilities.

It looks like it was a smart decision. In the first quarter of 2012, Land Rover sales here in the U.S. were up 29 percent and Jaguar sales were up 33 percent compared with the same period in 2011.

I certainly flew home from The Golden State with a very sunny disposition and a really positive ‘state’ of mind for our future.

You might think it would have been an easy task. After all, in the first year the Range Rover went on sale in the U.S., we sold 1,508 of the 1987 model-year versions.

But we decided early on that rather than borrow a car from an owner, it would be worth Land Rover North America buying one and adding it to our heritage fleet.

And of course it had to be white, just like the car we featured in our original U.S. advertising. 

I guess I started looking this past winter when I put the word out to our Land Rover Experience instructors, our retailers and the independent Land Rover specialists. While I got a few leads, sadly most of the cars just didn’t fit the bill.

Luckily Product Manager Skip Pavlik found an online ad that tipped us off to a vehicle destined for RMR 4X4 in Birmingham, Alabama.

It had been bought new in March 1987 by a gentleman in Atherton, California who kept it in an aircraft hangar for most of its life. He still had the original bill of sale from the old San Francisco Autocenter, along with the original Monroney window sticker, two copies of the original brochure and even a request to take part in one of our original driving schools. I bought it sight unseen.

I’m an enormous fan of these classic Range Rovers. I joined Land Rover North America on November 1, 1986 right at the very beginning, and I can count on one hand the times I haven’t owned one. I sold my ’91 just last summer.

Within just a couple of miles of driving our new '87 Range Rover, I knew this was a great find. It has less than 100,000 miles on the clock - nothing for an early Range Rover - and it still felt tight and responsive. It was an absolute delight to drive.

Before then, it will take its place on Land Rover’s stand during the press (April 4-5) and public (6-15) days for this year’s New York International Auto Show. If you’re there, go and take a look.

What’s so amazing about these late-’80s Range Rovers is how fresh and modern their design still looks, even parked next to one of our 2012 models. What other 25-year-old vehicle can you say that about?

I was so enamored by our “new” ’87 that I decided, the following weekend of purchasing the car, to make a new purchase of my own. I bought another 91', in white of course, to add to my collection – the perfect 25^th anniversary gift if I do say so myself. 

Land Rover is off-roading in New York City's Chelsea section as a pre-cursor to the New York International Auto Show opening to media this week. The course opened on Saturday morning and will be open to media and invited consumers up until our 25th Anniversary Celebration Tuesday night before the auto show media day opens. 

Land Rover Experience maestro Bob Burns built the course with an "Urban Jungle" in mind, completely relevant for New Yorkers who use their Land Rovers to tackle the tough roads and diverse weather conditions thrown at them. 

Hundreds of consumers came out despite (or maybe because of) the less-than perfect weather, and literally thousands of tourists and locals gawked from atop the famed High Line to watch the SUV torture test. 

The U.K. is clearly the spiritual home of Land Rover, but New York City has surely become an adopted member of the family. This week, in honor of its 25th Anniversary in the U.S., Land Rover is making a big splash here and from the early reaction, the locals are giving us a warm (though it was chilly outside) welcome.

To view more photos from Land Rover's off-road course in NYC, click here

Jaguar Land Rover rolls into New York City next week looking to make a big splash in one of the world’s biggest markets, writes Stuart Schorr, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Jaguar Land Rover North America.

A strong and strengthening product line-up and a balanced global sales footprint are driving JLR's growth and financial performance. On a global basis, JLR is delivering financially – third quarter earnings for 2011/12 fiscal year were £559 million profit before tax. 2010/11 full fiscal year earnings exceeded £1 billion (£1,043m profit after tax).

Locally, Jaguar and Land Rover sales continue to be strong. JLRNA sales in the United States were up 11 percent at the end of 2010, and through February, sales in the U.S. were up another 31 percent. These strong sales have kept the United States as the largest market after the U.K. for both Jaguar and Land Rover brands.

In New York, Land Rover is celebrating its 25th year of selling vehicles in the United States. The year was 1987 when Range Rover North America’s dealers retailed their first vehicles. In those 25 years, U.S. drivers have become the largest consumers of Range Rover vehicles from Land Rover. Not to mention that New York City is the single largest consumer market as well. Over four days in New York leading up to press day, we will celebrate this milestone with an unprecedented Land Rover off-road "urban jungle" adventure in Chelsea.

At the New York International Auto Show, Land Rover will show a number of interesting products including its two newest concept vehicles, the Range Rover Evoque convertible concept and the DC100 expedition concept. Land Rover will also proudly show-off its newly restored 1987 Range Rover.

On the Jaguar side, we will emphasize our performance cars as the U.S. is the largest premium sports car market in the world (ahead of Germany, U.K., Japan and China). The U.S. accounts for about one third of all world sales of the segment including the Jaguar XK line, the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and Porsche Boxster/Cayman. It is one half of the world market when you include the Chevrolet Corvette. Sales of the XK lineup in the U.S. have been very strong this year due to its new modern design and the buzz generated from the launch of the XKR-S models.

For the Model Year 13 XK, we offer a new Portfolio Pack with unique exterior and interior treatments, to debut at the New York Show. We also continue with the  550-hp Jaguar XKR-S for MY13 (there will be 100 of each available). The 2012  XKR-S debuted with an incredible response as it sold out immediately in the U.S. (100 coupes, 25 convertibles of each for MY12). Throughout the New York Show, Jaguar will celebrate its past, present and future of performance and sport cars. It's sure to be another great celebration for the brand.

Follow us here at Interactivelandrover.com & Interactivejaguar.com all week for news from Jaguar and Land Rover at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.

 

 

We were showcasing our 2012 Range Rover Evoque, the lightest, most fuel-efficient and most sustainable Range Rover ever.

While it surprised plenty of people to see a Range Rover leading a Green Car Parade, it all made sense to them when they heard of its 28 mpg highway fuel economy, its 95 percent recyclability, and the 35 pounds of recycled material used in its construction.

 

This was the fifth year of the Colorado Green Car Parade. It’s held in the run-up to the Denver Auto Show to raise awareness for the environmentally-focused cars and SUVs that would be on display at the show.

It kicked off with a one-day, five-city tour that started in Denver, making stops in Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley. At each place, the media and consumers came out to look at the vehicles and hear about their eco-friendly credentials.

 

Then we got to line-up the 18-or-so vehicles around the perimeter of the State Capitol building here in Denver, before setting off on the parade through the downtown streets to the Colorado Convention Center.

We brought along a Firenze Red Range Rover Evoque Coupe to lead the parade, and this being Colorado, we naturally fitted a matching red mountain bike to the roof. We also added stickers to the bodywork highlighting the compact SUV’s 28mpg economy and 95 percent recyclability.

The event was great because I got the opportunity to talk to a lot of consumers about the Range Rover Evoque’s sustainability, explaining that around 1,000 recycled plastic bottles are used in each Evoque to make components like the center console, air cleaner, wheel arch liners, parcel shelf and engine cover.

I also pointed out that there are 46 pounds of natural and renewable materials, such as leather, cotton, cardboard and rubber, in each Range Rover Evoque, and that the stylish Morzine trim fabric used for the headlining and roof pillars, is produced entirely from recycled plastic bottles and fibers.

But, I think what surprised people the most, was discovering that under the hood was a highly-efficient turbocharged four-cylinder, rather than a V-6 or V-8.

For me, the icing on the cake came when members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press voted the Range Rover Evoque their 2012 'New Vehicle of the Year' in their annual Vehicle of the Year awards. The award went to the vehicle that best represented Colorado and its outdoor lifestyle.

That in itself is surely worthy of a parade.

For the past four years, our dealership has been a proud sponsor of the annual Sporting Clays Classic that’s held at the Pro Gun Club in Boulder City, just west of Las Vegas.

The event supports the Las Vegas Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. So far we’ve helped raise more than half a million dollars which has directly benefitted the 34,000 kids in our local scout troops. The money is used to fund camps, scouting events, and to buy equipment. All in all, it’s really a great cause.

The next Sporting Clays Classic kicks off on April 20. It’s a two-day event in which 40 four-person teams from companies across the Las Vegas Valley compete in a series of sporting-clays-shooting competitions.

We love being involved in this event. Land Rover Las Vegas hosts the big Friday night kick-off party and banquet in our showroom where we raise more money with the usual silent and live auction.

Then at the event itself, we’ll sell tickets for a drawing where someone gets to win a one-year lease of a new Range Rover. This year, it’s a 2012 Range Rover Sport.

During the day, we set-up a pretty challenging off-road course where people get to experience Land Rover’s legendary capability. This year we’re looking forward to getting people behind the wheel of our all-new Range Rover Evoque.

Of course this is just one event supported by one dealership. Land Rover Las Vegas is part of the Findlay Automotive Group. We’re a family-run group started by Pete Findlay in Las Vegas 51 years ago. Now we have 23 dealerships representing 17 brands throughout Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho.

Each and every one of those dealerships is holding events, organizing fund raisers, getting involved in their local communities and all making a difference.

At the Sporting Clays Classic on April 20 and 21, we’re definitely shooting to make a difference.

I really love auto shows. It's a great opportunity to meet customers, see new product, and also see what the competition is up to. This year's Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, which opens to the public today (Friday), is gearing up to be one of the best ever, writes Lindsay Duffield, President, Jaguar Land Rover Canada.

We're thrilled to have the ground-breaking Jaguar C-X16 hybrid sports car concept headlining our show stand. It fits in perfectly with the theme of this year's show - The Next Dimension - where the focus is on new technologies and cutting- edge design.

With its new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 coupled with an electric motor and lithium-ion batteries, the C-X16 is fast and extremely fuel efficient. As for the cutting edge design, this is without doubt one of the most breathtaking concepts ever created.

We're also thrilled to have Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, with us for the show's press preview and the first public day, explaining his thinking behind the C-X16's sensuous lines.

C-X16 will join the full Jaguar line-up on the stand - from the redesigned 2012 XF, to the XJ, to the 550-horsepower XKR-S coupe. On our Land Rover stand, we'll be showcasing our new Range Rover Evoque, 2012 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover, as well as the latest Land Rover LR4.

The compact SUV market here in Canada is red-hot right now and demand for the Range Rover Evoque is very strong. Since the all-new Range Rover Evoque went on sale in October, it really has been a smash hit. It's just the right size for Canadians, and with our higher fuel prices - our gas right now is around $5.20 a US gallon - buyers love its highly efficient four-cylinder turbo engine.

We are also Jaguar's fourth biggest market in the world for XK sports car sales, and why over 90 percent of the XKs we sell are supercharged XKR models. With the XF sedan, the supercharged XFR accounts for 26 percent of XF sales.

When it comes to Range Rover, we sell every Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Autobiography we can get our hands on. With the new limited-edition Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate - at $188,000 Canadian, by far the most expensive Range Rover ever - we chose to bring in 10, and we sold each one of them.

Jaguar Land Rover business in Canada had a great 2011, with the highest year-on-year sales increase - 21 percent - of any car company. January was another super-strong month with our Land Rover sales up 79 percent compared to January 2011.

If you're headed to Toronto for the auto show this weekend, be sure to stop by our stand to see the latest from Jaguar and Land Rover.

This Sunday while you’re watching the big game with your laptop or iPad, you won’t be alone. Tapping into the expected increase in web traffic on Sunday, Land Rover will be executing national homepage takeovers, featuring the Range Rover Evoque, on NYTimes.com. The takeover, which will be live on February 5th and 6th, is expected to generate 17.5 million impressions over the two days.

“With the New York Giants in the championship game this weekend, New York being the biggest Land Rover market and our recent 2012 North American Truck of the Year award, it made sense to tie it all together. We’ve seen desktop [computer] usage rise during the day and then increased usage of tablets and smartphones throughout the early evening and primetime, so we hope to be able to take advantage of that behavior,” says Ken Bracht, Marketing Communications Manager, Land Rover North America.

On February 4th (and 5th in Los Angeles), Land Rover will also be executing regional homepage takeovers that will feature the Range Rover Evoque on ESPN.com in New York, Dallas, Boston and Los Angeles, which are estimated to generate 400,000 impressions across all sites.

AC/DC Rocker, Sarasota Café Racer & Range Rover Autobiography owner, Brian Johnson checks out the sporty, sexy & chopped Evoque.

Range Rover is on a roll. Its bold foray into the world of premium compact/crossover SUVs with its LRX Concept-based Evoque has exceeded all expectations. The 2012 Evoque is cleaning house when it comes to winning awards and accolades from the media. It has already garnered more than 50 International awards, including: North American Truck of the Year, Best of the Best Truck (Autoweek), All-Star (Automobile), Sport/Utility of the Year (Motor Trend), Car of the Year (Top Gear) plus the prestigious R.L. Polk Loyalty Award.

Click here to read more.

Tony Swan, is Editor-at-Large for Car and Driver magazine and a founding member and organizing committee member of the “North American Car of the Year” and “North American Truck of the Year” awards. Here he explains the background to the Range Rover Evoque’s landmark win.

1. This is the first ever “North American Truck of the Year” victory for a Land Rover model.

Yes, the LR3 was a finalist in 2005 and the Range Rover 4.0 SE was a finalist in 1996, but this was the first win for the brand. What’s impressive about the Range Rover Evoque’s win in this year’s awards is the margin of votes - it got 254 votes compared to 142 for the second-placed Honda CR-V, and 94 for the third-placed BMW X3.

2. How does the voting process work?

The jury is made up of 50 full-time automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. This year, we considered more than 50 vehicles, which must be new or substantially changed. Part of the selection process includes three days of driving all the contenders around the roads of Hell, Michigan - yes, three days in Hell. Jurors then sent their ballots to the accounting firm of Deloitte LLP in Detroit. After the three car and three truck finalists were announced on December 15, the jurors were then asked to vote on the finalists to decide the winners.

3. What are the jurors looking for?

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. We’re looking for vehicles that are the benchmarks in their segments based on factors like innovation, design, engineering, safety, handling, driver satisfaction, comfort and value for the dollar.

4. What makes these awards different from the many others around?

One word: Independence. We have no commercial ties with any car maker or enterprise connected to the auto industry. There are no paid positions - they are administered by an organizing committee and funded with dues paid by the jurors. We’ve also been around for a while - this is the 19th year of the awards.

5. Why do you think the new Range Rover Evoque received so many votes?

Style counts for a lot in any segment and the designers really nailed the styling with the new Range Rover Evoque. It also drives well and is fun to drive. I think the dimension it has that the other contenders don’t is that it is really good off-road. The others don’t even pretend to be off-roaders. It’s also the first Range Rover in the US not to have a V8, which shows an important new direction.

 

With our 2011 sales up a remarkable 20 percent, we scored the largest improvement, percentage-wise, of any of our competitors. Better than BMW, better than Mercedes-Benz, better than Porsche, Lexus and Audi.

Land Rover is on a roll right now. Last year was our best sales year since 2007 with precisely 38,099 vehicles finding new buyers. The Range Rover Sport continued to be our volume leader - up 24 percent from 2010 - followed by our flagship Range Rover model - up 11 percent, and the re-designed Land Rover LR4 saw a 12 percent gain.

Add to these the success of our new 2012 Range Rover Evoque. It hit the market running in October, and in just three months, accounted for 2,244 sales. Demand continues to far exceed supply.

So why did Land Rover have such a landmark year? It’s down to a multitude of reasons. First and foremost, our current line-up is the strongest we’ve ever had, offering that unrivaled combination of luxury, capability and value.

The dramatic changes we made for 2010, with new 5.0-liter AJV8 powerplants, fresh exteriors and interiors, and greatly-improved quality, really changed the perception that buyers had of the Land Rover brand. Further improvements for the 2011 models only added to its appeal.

We also saw a rebound, from an economic standpoint, in some of our key markets. While the Northeast has always been a Land Rover stronghold, 2011 saw solid sales increases across the country but particularly in those areas hardest hit by the recession - in South Florida and along the West Coast.

I also think all the pre-launch publicity for the 2012 Range Rover Evoque helped increase the awareness of the Land Rover brand in general. So far our new luxury compact SUV has collected more than 50 key awards and recognitions - Motor Trend’s 2012 Sport/Utility of the Year and Autoweek’s “Best of Best” Truck award to name just two. That increase in brand awareness has been reflected by a significant boost in showroom traffic.

I believe our customers continue to gain confidence in our vehicles when they see the Range Rover Sport and the Range Rover Evoque winning top Residual Value Awards from Automotive Lease Guide in 2011.

There’s also a renewed focus, enthusiasm and energy within the company these days. Last year saw us make several senior management changes that allowed us to bring in key managers from other parts of the luxury business. Fresh ideas and out-of-the-box thinking is paying off.

One thing is for sure; expect this momentum to continue as we drive forward in 2012. These are truly exciting times at Land Rover, and we have a lot more on the horizon. Keep checking in; 2012 is shaping up to be another exciting year for the brand.

 

Watch the episode here.

On Tuesday, December 6, Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America and Chris Marchand, Executive Vice President, Operations, Jaguar Land Rover North America, honored those employees who are celebrating 25 years of service with the company this year, with a plaque at a special dinner reception. The employees recognized were:

• Bob Burns; 3D Experience & Events Manager, Land Rover

• George Delaney; Franchise Development Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• James Gathercole; Port Operations & Logistics Coordinator, Jaguar Land Rover

• Donald Krumholz; After Sales Operations Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Edward Moran; Southern Regional Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Andrew Riccardi; Warranty Business Analyst, Jaguar Land Rover

• Scott Tucker; Service Engineering Support & Essential Tools and Equipment Manager, Jaguar Land Rover

• Barbara Wheatley; Market Manager (North LA), Jaguar Land Rover

In addition to celebrating the many years of hard work, loyalty and dedication of each of the honorees, the night was also filled with reminiscing as the employees shared stories of when and how they first started with the company. Although every story was unique and different in some way, there was one reoccurring theme… a love for the brand and a love for the products Jaguar Land Rover creates.

On behalf of the entire Jaguar Land Rover North American team, we'd like to thank these individuals for their inspiring long service with the company and wish them all the best of luck in the coming years!

From L to R: George Delaney, Barbara Wheatley, Chris Marchand, Bob Burns, James Gathercole, Donald Krumholz, Andy Goss and Andrew Riccardi at the Jaguar Land Rover 25 Years of Service Reception in Mahwah, New Jersey on December 6, 2011. (Not pictured are honorees: Ed Moran and Scott Tucker)

 

I’ve done just that in recently buying a 1956 Land Rover Series I, writes Kim McCullough, Brand Vice President, Land Rover North America.

To say that I've been enjoying this car is an understatement. With its canvas roof, fold-flat windshield and flat bench seating, driving really doesn’t get much more basic. Want air conditioning? Just take off one of the doors.

Initially, I had been looking for a Series II model from the late 50s, and last summer I was fortunate enough to go to the Goodwood Revival in the UK. As you may know, it’s a fabulous heritage event where everyone dresses up in retro-style clothing and turns-up in their classic cars. There I saw a lot of Series I vehicles and absolutely fell in love with them.

So with the help of Bob Burns, Land Rover’s 3d Experience & Events Manager and source of all Land Rover knowledge, we found a specialist in Vermont who had this grey-blue 1956 Series I with the optional hard top for sale. I went up to Vermont, drove it, and bought it right there on the spot.

It’s in great shape for a 55-year-old truck. It was restored around 10 years ago and now has this lovely patina. I didn’t want anything too precious as I want to use it, drive it and really enjoy it on the 11 acres of New Jersey woodland where I live.

Of course the timing for buying the Series I is really interesting. I’m sure you’ve seen the DC100 concepts shown at the Frankfurt and Los Angeles auto shows this past fall, which showcase the possible design direction of the new-generation Defender. Look closely and you'll see that the size, the proportions and a lot of the design details, really seem to echo those of the Series I.

Certainly, next year when we begin to hold customer clinics to get feedback on the DC100 designs - and determine the potential for bringing the next Defender to the US - we may end up having my Series I there as a reference point.

In the meantime, especially as the weather turns, I’m really enjoying time in my Series I. In true Land Rover tradition, its traction and its off-road capability are simply remarkable. It goes virtually everywhere and usually with me enjoying every minute of it behind that over-sized wheel.

Maybe it’s the sunshine, or the fact that the vehicles all appear to be so spotlessly-clean? Perhaps it's that every luxury car looks great with palm trees and a Pacific Ocean backdrop? Whichever, I still am taken with our vehicles' road presence when I see them cruising down Rodeo Drive, gliding effortlessly through Beverly Hills, or quickly cutting through traffic on the PCH in Malibu.

It certainly feels a very long way from Coventry.

The Los Angeles market is massively important to Jaguar and Land Rover. We have our top-selling Jaguar retailer in the world, Galpin Jaguar, in L.A., and as you’d expect, L.A. is the largest U.S. market for Jaguar and second largest for Land Rover after New York City.

It’s the reason we place so much importance on the Los Angeles Auto Show and this year had such a major presence during last week’s two press days.

We kicked things off with a stylish pre-show VIP event right off of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. It was a great evening with literally hundreds of customers, dealers, entertainment industry VIPs, and global media who came together to celebrate Jaguar and Land Rover's newest designs. Special guests included Jay Leno who stopped by to see the Jaguar C-X16 concept and Ben McKenzie who plays a police officer in the TV show Southland, and who will soon be seen driving a Range Rover Evoque on air.

A highlight of the evening was the global debut of our 550-horsepower 2012 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible, complete with a celebrity appearance by Hollywood actress Mila Kunis.

If ever there was a car designed for L.A., it’s the XKR-S Convertible. It's beautiful to look at, massively powerful and very exclusive.

 

Our press conference during the media day was a standing room only affair as media listened to top global management including Dr. Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO; Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Global Brand Director; and John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.

Our newest concept vehicles, the C-X16, the DC100 and DC100 Sport, created a lot of positive media attention and were featured prominently on local L.A. and national television news programs. All three are bold statements of Jaguar and Land Rover’s future design and technological intent and bode well for our future. Congratulations go to lead designers Gerry McGovern and Ian Callum, and their teams, for creating such compelling products.

 

In all my too-many-to-count years in the car business, I don’t think I’ve ever seen concepts receive so much enthusiastic and genuine praise, and so many calls to “build it!” We are listening and we know, if we do bring them to market, they are certainly going to look great in this influential market.

The first part of the program consisted of a ride and drive to two decidedly different locales. While one half of the media drove to the “Jaguar Land Rover Malibu Experience” which took place at the Rosenthal Estate and Winery in the Malibu Hills, overlooking the Pacific, the other half of the group drove to Santa Monica Beach to drive the Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept.

 

The DC100 Sport Concept was first shown to the media at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. The vehicle received rave reviews from media and public alike. The DC100 is intended to be a modern reinterpretation of the iconic Land Rover Defender, while capturing the adventurous, indomitable spirit established by the Land Rover Series 1 in 1948. The members of the media were invited to drive the DC100 Sport Concept, at a beach setting under controlled conditions, insuring that Land Rover’s long standing philosophy to “Tread Lightly” was strictly observed.

The members of the media were also invited to drive several other current examples of Land Rover and Range Rover products, including the all-new Range Rover Evoque.

The second half of the group drove to the magnificent Rosenthal Estate and Winery. There, media were able to drive the XKR-S Convertible development mule.

 

Clad in a coat of semi-gloss graphite paint, the XKR-S Convertible looked more like a Stealth fighter than a high performance luxury sports car. Used for developmental purposes, the XKR-S development mule was equipped with a full roll cage and competition-style seat belts to insure safety, should someone become over exuberant during testing. Here again, members of the media were provided with a range of Jaguar and Land Rover products to sample as well.

Both the DC100 and the DC100 Sport Concepts, along with the Jaguar C-X16 concept car, will be making their North American debut at the 2011 LA Auto Show this week. The Jaguar XKR-S Convertible, which features the same highly efficient 5.0-liter 550 horsepower, V8 supercharged engine as the XKR-S Coupe, will make its global debut at a private sneak preview reception in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Nov 16^, and will be available for viewing by the public from Nov 18-27.

The two Land Rover concepts, DC100 and DC100 Sport are already stirring up online chatter as spy shots have emerged of our pre-show California photo shoots. These two concepts represent the beginning of a journey to develop an all-new Land Rover Defender in the future.  Whether that vehicle will eventually make it to these shores is still not determined, but it is certainly something the company is considering.

On the Jaguar side, its all about sports cars, which is appropriate given the fact that Southern California is one of the greatest sports car markets in the world.  Jaguar will be bringing two hot ones: the C-X16 Production Concept sports car and the "you better wear a tight hat" 550-HP Jaguar XKR- S Convertible. 

These four vehicles will come together at our press conference at the L.A. Auto Show press preview day on Wednesday, Nov 16, at 11 AM PST, and at a private sneak preview reception in Beverly Hills on Tuesday evening, Nov 15.  

-The Jaguar Land Rover Press Conference at the L.A. Auto Show will take place at 11am PST on Wednesday, Nov 16, and will be live streamed and available to view on www.interactivelandrover.com and www.interactivejaguar.com.

-All Land Rover images, B-roll and film assets will be available to download from Monday Nov, 14: www.media.landrover.com and www.interactivelandrover.com .

-All Jaguar images, B-roll and film assets will be available to download from Wednesday Nov, 16: www.media.jaguar.com and www.interactivejaguar.com.

Over the past year, consumers, media and enthusiasts were given the opportunity to see the Range Rover Evoque on display at auto shows and special events and gained more fans for its unique design and true luxury. Test drives began, and the reactions grew even more positive.

One group of the first media outlets in the U.S. to spend an extended period of time in the vehicle was the Motor Trend Magazine team.  And after their initial test drives, they tested it alongside all the other top new SUVs to come out this year.

On October 25, the all-new Range Rover Evoque was awarded a top honor in the automotive industry, as Motor Trend named it the '2012 SUV of the Year' proving just how special the newest Range Rover truly is.

An award ceremony with employees took place on the rooftop of the Land Rover Manhattan dealership, where Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend, Angus Mackenzie presented Andy Goss, President of Jaguar Land Rover North America with the coveted caliper award. With a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline (after all New York City is the largest metro Range Rover market in the world) employees from Land Rover's corporate office in New Jersey and from the dealership gathered to receive the award along with Andy and to celebrate this incredible honor for the brand.

From the production debut in London to the year long rollout to the Motor Trend celebration in New York, everything about the 2012 Range Rover Evoque has been memorable and unique. This new vehicle, and the excitement it creates, is something all of us in the Land Rover family around the world can be proud of. Congratulations Range Rover Evoque!

1) This is a new position within Jaguar Land Rover. What does the job involve?

It’s all about experiential marketing and the customer experience. It’s creating innovative, exciting opportunities for consumers to engage with our two brands. That can include everything from lifestyle events, ride and drives, auto shows and partnerships with other like-minded brands.

2) What’s your background?

I was born and raised in Germany, in a town just outside Dusseldorf. I came to the United States 18 years ago to study. After grad school, I went straight into the automotive industry. I had four years with BMW, then 12 with Mercedes-Benz, mostly in event management. I love this business.

3) What do you see as your biggest challenge?

Getting Jaguar on the radar screens of more luxury car buyers and increasing awareness of our brand. What I’m already discovering is that when we have the opportunity to put people into our cars, get them behind the wheel to experience Jaguar's performance and luxury; we can turn them into enthusiasts. I feel we have a huge opportunity here on the events side. It’s why key future Jaguar customer events will always involve a driving element.

4) Do you see opportunities to combine Jaguar and Land Rover events?

That’s already happening. At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance automotive weekend in August, both Jaguar and Land Rover had a major presence - Jaguar celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the E-type, and Land Rover introducing the all-new Range Rover Evoque. We had hugely-successful test-drive programs for both brands.

5) Tell us something we don’t know about Natascha Wolber.

I am a passionate and adventurous traveler and a huge fan of the African continent, culture, its wildlife and people. I've been particularly fascinated with gorillas and last year enjoyed my first gorilla trek in Virunga National Park in Ruanda. It was a remarkable and humbling experience. I’ve also spent time in Kenya and Tanzania.

The chance of finding snow was one of the reasons we picked Vancouver in British Columbia for the North American media introduction of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque. At roughly six thousand feet up Blackcomb Mountain and a two-hour drive north of Vancouver, there’s a good chance you’ll find slippery fresh powder. Of course, a drive around Vancouver’s cool city and surrounding neighborhoods seemed a natural fit as well for the innovative modern SUV.

The drive north on the Sea-to-Sky Highway to the ski resort of Whistler is always breathtaking. Driving it is like being inside an automotive commercial: long curvy roads, majestic mountains, blue sky, etc.  At the base of the adjacent Blackcomb Mountain, scene of many of the 2010 Winter Olympics activities, we turned off the pavement and on to the rough, rarely used rutted service roads that snake their way seven and a half miles to the 7^th Heaven ski area close to the top of the mountain.  Other than this Land Rover adventure, the only public way to the top of that ski mountain is by way of helicopter, ski lift, ATV or guided off road tour: all considerably less accommodating than the Range Rover Evoque with leather seats and a Meridian® audio system.

The Mud and Ruts setting on the Terrain Response® system kept the wheels churning through the mud that covered many of the sections of the gnarled service road. But with the Range Rover Evoque vehicle’s Haldex® electronically controlled center, which couples distributing power between the front and rear axles, getting traction was never a problem.

Past 6,000 feet, the route got considerably steeper and the soft rain turned to sleet and then snow, and the snow itself went from a light dusting to almost a foot deep (in Winter, there is more than 25ft of base snow at this level). This is what we had climbed the mountain to find.  Selecting the Grass, Gravel, Snow setting completely changes the dynamics of the vehicle. In snow, you don’t want lots of power. The goal is to prevent wheelspin at all cost and maintain traction.

The Grass, Gravel, Snow program softens the throttle response and provides quicker gear shifts to stay out of the meat of the torque curve. Traction control is very aggressive here. It’s as if the entire four wheel-drive system is saying ‘I’m going to do everything I can to avoid wheelspin because we are on such a slippery surface’.

All our vehicles ploughed their way through the snow to reach 7^th Heaven. It was a great test of the capability and versatility of this remarkable compact vehicle. 

As we go to market with the Range Rover Evoque this month, it is important for our customers, 80 percent of which we expect could be new to the brand, to know how these systems work and what they can do for you. Climbing the mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb were certainly a good first step in getting that information out.

A year ago we took a group of journalists over the Imogene Pass between Telluride and Ouray to show off the new 2011 LR4, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. When I was planning a family road-trip vacation through Colorado with my wife Susan and daughters Natalie, 15, and Christy, 12, a natural overnight stop was Telluride, where Land Rover has a strategic partnership with the Telluride Ski and Golf Resort.

We were talking about things we wanted to do on the trip and both girls said they’d really like to visit an old ghost town. That’s when I remembered Tomboy, the old mining settlement and official ghost town that’s on the Imogene Pass.

What followed was two days of intense, white-knuckle off-roading in our Land Rover LR4, traversing the 13,114-foot-high pass over the San Juan Mountains, clawing along narrow, loose-gravel tracks with 200-to-300-foot sheer drops at the side.  Only this time, I alone was the instructor, the driver, and the one responsible for getting us there in one piece.

 

It was pretty scary stuff. The girls had never experienced serious off-roading before and were a little nervous. At some stages there were only a couple of feet between us and the edge. Remembering the adage that my original Land Rover instructor in England told me, I went as slow as possible and only as fast as necessary.

For me, it only reinforced my long-held belief that the LR4 is simply the world’s most capable off-road vehicle, and how its technology – like Terrain Response® and Hill Descent Control (HDC®) – can make you feel safe and confident in your driving abilities while combating any type of terrain.

The whole drive made me rethink what LR4 is all about. We talk about its capability and technology, and here I was putting it into practice. I’ve always had an immense respect for the vehicle, but those two days in the mountains revealed how impressive the vehicle really is and the joy of taking it places that are otherwise pretty much inaccessible.

The LR4 has a low first-year depreciation of just 17% and its array of standard features and competitive starting MSRP got the attention of NADAguides' team of analysts.

Just nine models from nine different automakers were selected as NADAguides Top Recommended Current Buys. Its recommendations are based on an in-depth analysis of depreciation value, current incentives and rebates, warranty, assistance services and features.

In this latest report, NADAguides singled-out the LR4 model's DVD player/navigation and premium sound system, its 375 horsepower V8 and comprehensive airbag system, saying they “combine to make the 2011 Land Rover LR4 a great choice for consumers.”

Of course, this is just one more accolade for the Land Rover LR4, which is the most-decorated Land Rover ever.

Only recently it finished top in Strategic Vision Inc.'s Total Quality Index® in the near-luxury SUV category. It was also voted best luxury off-roader in the 2011 Active Lifestyle Vehicle Awards and its most prestigious recent accolade; 2011 4x4 of the Year from Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road.

Already we have released images of the Jaguar C-X16, a production concept signaling a robust future of design and performance for Jaguar and today we held a preview media event to unveil the brand's newest concept. To view the special C-X16 preview event, click here. 

The Land Rover brand kicked-off global excitement with the announcement of its intent to develop a new Land Rover Defender in the future, and got the conversation started with the Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept.

At the show this week, the pictures, and perhaps some surprises, will come alive as we show these products in Frankfurt to the world media.  Here is the timeline and coordinates for following us and getting photos and videos:

A live stream of the Jaguar Land Rover press conference from the Frankfurt Motor Show can be viewed at: www.interactivejaguar.com and www.interactivelandrover.com

We encourage you to check back to http://www.jaguar.com/gl/en/ & http://media.c-x16.com/ for additional Jaguar C-X16 Concept content and www.landrover.com/dc100 for DC100 Defender Concept assets.

Thanks for your interest in Jaguar Land Rover; we encourage you to share your thoughts on our social media channels:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Interactive-Jaguar & http://www.facebook.com/interactivelandrover

Twitter: @Interactivejag & @Interactivelr

So, like thousands of passionate Defender enthusiasts here in the U.S., we are ecstatic that our company has announced that it intends to build an all-new and thoroughly modern Land Rover Defender for 2015. Although no decision has been made to bring the new generation Defender to North America, we will show the Land Rover DC100 concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13. 

The DC100 concept vehicle is exactly that: a true concept. As Gerry McGovern, our Design Director says, DC100 marks the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21^st Century.

The debut at the Frankfurt Show kicks off our efforts to get feedback from media, consumers and enthusiasts, not only on DC100 but how, in general, they think a Defender 2015 should look, and the features it should offer. One thing that’s non-negotiable is off-road capability. Defender has always been Land Rover’s most rugged, most capable, most authentic model and that will not change.

For the serious adventurer, Defender is still the vehicle of choice for tackling everything from the jungles of South America, the plains of the Serengeti, to the Australian Outback. Every modern-day Defender has the character and capability of that very first pioneering Land Rover we introduced in 1948.

Here in the U.S., we offered the previous-generation Defender 90 and 110 models from 1993 to 1997. Tougher emissions and safety requirements ended U.S. sales in ’97. Yet as a measure of the passion for these rugged, go-anywhere 4x4s, our best year for U.S. Defender sales was 1997 when we sold 2,500 vehicles.

What’s remarkable is how well those last model-year Defenders have retained their value. Go online and look it up and while you're logged-on, please spend time at Land Rover's USA Facebook page (www.facebook.com/landroverusa ) and here on www.interactivelandrover.com to see more images of Defender vehicles in general and the exciting DC100 concept. This is a long journey, and our Defender enthusiasts play an important role in shaping a relevant Defender for the future. 

For Land Rover, the focus was introducing the fuel efficient 2012 Range Rover Evoque and offering, for the first time, off-road test drives in the newest Range Rover. For Jaguar, the focus was of course celebrating our past (E-Type), present (XKR-S launch) and future (C-X75) and emphasizing our design and high performance credentials. 

 

 

Throughout the weekend, both Jaguar and Land Rover conducted hundreds of new product test drives at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering, The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, and at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. A select group of consumers were able to get behind the wheel of the Jaguar XKR-S for a few hot laps at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with driving legends such as, Davy Jones, Roberto Guerrero, Martin Brundle, and renowned Jaguar racer, Bob Tullius. Not a bad way to take a 550 HP Jaguar XKR-S around the corkscrew. 

 

 

Others took off-road drives in Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles as part of the brand's displays at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and at The Quail Lodge, home of the Land Rover Experience Driving School. Led by Land Rover North America's Bob Burns, the Land Rover Experience Driving Instructors coached consumers on how to get the most out of Land Rover's Terrain Response® System. 

We were blown away by peoples' reactions to the new Range Rover Evoque all weekend. From its styling to its off-road capability, the compact SUV really resonated with the enthusiasts on the Peninsula.

Rick, from Carlsbad, Calif. was one of the first consumers to take the lightest and most fuel-efficient Range Rover off-road, as part of Land Rover North America's new Range Rover Evoque Experience tour, which kicked-off this past weekend at Pebble Beach.

More than 90 consumers signed-up for the challenging 15-minute test drive that was coinciding with Friday's The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering event where Land Rover was a sponsor.

The 1.5-mile off-road course they used was part of the Land Rover Experience Driving School that is based at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, Calif. It featured a series of steep climbs, sheer drops, ruts and ridges designed to showcase the new Range Rover Evoque's off-road capabilities.

Bob Burns, Land Rover North America's Events Manager, said, "Most consumers who test-drove the new Range Rover Evoque came back with an ear-to-ear grin and were completely surprised with the new Range Rover's go-anywhere skills."

"The idea behind the Range Rover Evoque Experience tour is to reinforce the message that while the new Range Rover Evoque might look as if it has been designed for the city, it is very much a true Range Rover with real off-road capability", Burns added.

Following its Pebble Beach weekend debut, the tour will make stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami and San Francisco, where Burns and his team will create special city center off-road courses.

As Rick Blakemore's dusty, dirt-covered Range Rover Evoque coupe clawed its way down a rock-strewn sheer drop, its Hill Descent Control (HDC®) kept everything under control, and Blakemore simply had three words to say: "This is fun!"

 

You might have read in the papers that we recently donated a new Land Rover Defender to Tusk Trust, the wildlife conservation charity that does such great work throughout Africa.

The story was big news because their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended the reception in Beverly Hills where we handed over the keys to a Defender 110 Station Wagon. The Duke of Cambridge is Tusk Trust’s Royal patron.

Providing vehicles to conservation organizations is nothing new for Land Rover. For more than 60 years we’ve been working with groups around the world who are as passionate as we are about protecting wildlife. In fact, over those 60 years, we’ve donated literally hundreds of vehicles.

We’re as committed today as we’ve ever been. The majority of our efforts go into supporting our five Global Conservation Partners – the Earthwatch Institute, the Royal Geographical Society, Biosphere Expeditions, the China Exploration & Research Society, and the Born Free Foundation.

re-runs of that classic ‘Born Free’ movie with Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers playing Joy and George Adamson, the real-life couple who raised Elsa the lioness and drove everywhere in a rugged Land Rover.

Land Rover has been supporting the Born Free Foundation since 2002, and earlier this year re-affirmed its support by providing a new Defender 130 Double Cab for use on the Shamwari Game Reserve in South Africa.

This remarkable reserve provides care and a safe haven for rescued big cats from around the world. The hard-working Defender is used to tow heavy trailers, deliver food for the hungry cats being cared for and transport Born Free Foundation workers between the two sanctuaries at opposite ends of the reserve.

Land Rover’s involvement with the Tusk Trust goes back more than a decade. To mark the charity’s 20^th anniversary in 2010, we donated a new Land Rover Defender to a Tusk wildlife project in Botswana and every year provide a fleet of Land Rover vehicles to support the charity’s Safaricom Marathon fund-raiser.

It doesn’t stop there; Land Rover vehicles are being used by Biosphere Expeditions to track rare Arabian leopards in Oman. We’ve also provided them with a fleet of four Land Rover Defender vehicles in Namibia used to track cheetahs at risk of straying onto farmlands.

A Land Rover Defender is also the official workhorse of the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project in Central Kalimantan, which is in Indonesia. The project currently has over 530 orangutans in its care, and the vehicle plays a vital part in returning the animals to the wild.

Wherever animals are at risk, you can guarantee that a Land Rover isn’t far away.

http://theexperience.ning.com/page/global-wildlife-conservation   (go to Newsroom and click on Wildlife Conservation)

It’s a sport that shares so many of its values with Land Rover – power, performance, intelligence, versatility; all elements that are needed to create a world-class Rugby team, and a world-class, all-terrain vehicle.

All of us at Land Rover are hugely excited about the upcoming Rugby World Cup 2011, which kicks off in Auckland, New Zealand on September 9 and runs until October 23.

If you think that Rugby is just some minor-league sport that we Brits play on a Saturday afternoon, consider this: Rugby World Cup 2011 will be watched by a TV audience of over four billion in more than 200 countries and by more than 1.6 million spectators in New Zealand.

This is why, at the end of last year, we were so enthusiastic about Land Rover becoming the Official Vehicle of Rugby World Cup 2011 – and for us signing a five-year agreement to become a Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2015.

It’s a partnership that gives us an enormous global showcase and a real opportunity to engage with customers, staff and Rugby fans around the world in the build-up and during one of the biggest sporting events of 2011.

To help the teams and officials keep on the move, we’ve just delivered a fleet of specially-customized ‘Rugby World Cup 2011’ vehicles – mostly Range Rover Sport vehicles and Land Rover LR4 vehicles – to the Port of Auckland in preparation for the tournament.

They’re hard to miss. Each one features a head-turning ‘Rugby World Cup 2011’ paint scheme, special RWC 2011 license plates and commemorative badging.

Twenty teams from around the globe, including a team from the U.S., will be playing at no fewer than 12 venues that span the entire North and South Islands of New Zealand. Expect to see our vehicles everywhere from Whangarei to Wellington.

As you might suspect, this isn’t the first time Land Rover has sponsored the sport. We’ve been the Official Vehicle of England Rugby since 2002, and Official Vehicle of the British and Irish Lions, supporting them on their 2005 and 2009 tours.

We’re also committed to encouraging youngsters to get involved; the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is a UK-nationwide tournament for children ages 11 and 12.

Of course, some might say that our love of Rugby borders on fanaticism. But I think we’re much more passionate about it than that.

Today the results were announced for the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), with encouraging news on the initial quality front for both the Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) brands.

For the 2011 IQS, Land Rover was the most improved brand in the industry, and Jaguar also received improved results from 2010. These improvements reflected a significant reduction in Problems Per/100 Vehicles for both brands.

Jaguar's results were led by the Jaguar XF, which ranked as 2nd in the Midsize Premium Car segment, marking a tremendous achievement for the model. Land Rover's improvement was driven by the Range Rover Sport.

Overall, these results demonstrate JLR's redoubled commitment to vehicle quality throughout the organization including Product Development, Manufacturing, Suppliers, Customer Service and Dealers. Adding focus to the issue, in 2010, JLR revised the global Quality Business Office to lead new quality activities and processes with one of the company's targets being improvements in initial quality.

The Quality Business Office is responsible for driving the current model quality improvement process and improving the process to ensure issues are fixed faster and are detected quicker. The new team reflects a rigorous commitment from Jaguar Land Rover globally to ensure better service for its customers through improved quality. JLR has made progress to date and is currently working to improve again for 2012 via the 12MY vehicles.

Improvements in quality are a key corporate goal, and the direct challenge to the Quality Business Office, go hand-in-hand with improvements in sales and overall profitability. JLR looks forward to continuing its forward momentum in 2011 and into the future.

Ken Bracht reckons he was "dipped in green" – that’s Land Rover “green” – back in the late 1990s when he was able to drive Land Rover Discovery and Range Rover models as part of his market research job with then-owners, BMW of North America. Now, after 14 years with the German car maker, that included stints in product planning, media buying and event marketing, Bracht, joins Land Rover North America as its new Communications Manager.

1. So what does this new job involve?

My new position with Land Rover pretty much involves every facet of marketing communications. It’s influencing all the national advertising – the print campaigns, the TV and the digital work. It’s working on the creative for our retailers and it’s also about coming up with fresh ways of reaching out to new Land Rover customers and deciding on which mediums we use to communicate with them.

2. So, this is a good time for you to be joining Land Rover?

There couldn’t be a better time to join the brand. My team really has the opportunity to influence the way the all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque is launched in the U.S. this fall. I’m also joining a team that’s essentially new to Land Rover. We have managers who, like me, have joined the company literally in the past couple of months, from the likes of Porsche, Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. They’re bringing a fresh perspective to the brand.

3. What do you feel is the biggest story to tell about the new Range Rover Evoque as a marketer?

I think we have a lot of great stories to tell. Naturally, there’s the design story; this is a very cool and unique looking vehicle. There’s the performance story; 240 hp with class-leading fuel economy. There is also the sustainability story, with the use of composites and recycled materials and there is the story of its immense breadth of capability. In only my second week at this new job, I was able to go to the UK and drive a new Range Rover Evoque prototype and came away hugely impressed.

4. There’s a lot of competition out there in the premium compact SUV market. Do you have the budgets to make a noise?

We’re a relatively small company so we have to outsmart our competition, not outspend them, however in the auto industry, its all about the product. The designers have given us such a brilliant design with the new Range Rover Evoque, that we're confident we'll break some new ground in the luxury SUV segment.

5. We hear you have some history with British car brands.

My father was always into British cars and I was literally born into them. As a new-born, I was brought home from the hospital in the footwell of my dad’s Morgan Plus 4 sports car. I took my driving test in a classic Jaguar XJ6C coupe and, of course, one day I would like to drive a Land Rover Defender 90 off-road and use it as it was meant to be used.